Clipping:A proposal to allow overrunning second and third bases on steals
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| Date | Wednesday, February 27, 1884 |
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| Text | In view of the importance of [base running] it is strange that so little has been done for it. Harry Wright has long had an idea in regard to it which strikes us as quite feasible, and that is to let base runners overrun second and third, this privilege to be granted base runners when stealing bases only, and not to include running the bases on hit balls. That this would be a wise change careful consideration will show. We maintain that the fact that the runner is required to hold his base after stealing is a positive bar to good base running. Every year many good players are disabled for long periods, and to the great disadvantage of their clubs, from no other cause than injuries received while stealing second or third base. How many ankles are sprained in the course of a season through this alone? And every man stealing a base runs this risk of injury, sometimes temporarily, but often of such a character that the effect is felt in after years. The strain on a player of going headlong speed for a base and then suddenly checking himself in order to retain the base ought also to be considered. Then when a runner slides it not infrequently happens that his hip is badly bruised and the skin is abraded, which makes a painful wound. We have often seen the skin scraped off for many inches as clean as if cut with a razor. Now let a player so wounded go to his accustomed position in the field. The day is warm and the blood and perspiration combined will cause the flannel pants to adhere to the wound or else cause them to become rough at the spot and terribly irritate it. Is that player in condition to run nimbly after a fly or stoop to scoop in a grounder or to throw with accuracy? And will he not for days or weeks be disabled from sliding again? Nay, perhaps his experience will make him timid and in his future attempts he will fall an easy victim to the catcher's throw. In this manner a club very often loses much of the good service a player could give his club. We affirm that there are many, very many, player who are good batsmen and runner who never will attempt to steal a base, but when they get to first just wait to be driven around, through their selfish wish to save themselves from risk of injury and from fear of being disabled. As this rule now stands it is also provocative of much bad feeling. It imposes upon the umpire the duty of making decisions which are, nine times in ten, so close that it is hard to tell whether he is right or wrong. It subjects him to appeals from players and, if the game be close, to the displeasure of partizan audiences. Now the umpire's lot is not a happy one at best, and anything which takes from this burden, as would a rule letting base runners overrun, would simplify matters and be one step toward the solution of the vexed umpire question. How well works the rule allowing runners to overrun first base? How few disputes there are as to decisions t that point! Much bad blood under the present system is also engendered among players through collisions and questioned decisions, and intentional collisions at the bases are not at all infrequent. It is only a question of time when such a rule must be adopted... The Sporting Life February 27, 1884 Mullane's release from the St. Louis Club [from a letter from Jimmy Williams] Mullane's motives for going to Toledo I don't know, except I understand he claims he was afraid the Union team in St. Louis would not last. He asked for his release and we gave it to him and he has since signed with Toledo. The total cost to the St. Louis club in the transaction being the price of the telegram granting the release. The Sporting Life February 27, 1884 |
| Source | Sporting Life |
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| Submitted by | Richard Hershberger |
| Origin | Initial Hershberger Clippings |
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